LEB ZEP Chapter 3

Judgment of Jerusalem and the Nations

• The oppressing city!
• 2 She listens to no voice; she does not accept correction.
• In Yahweh she does not trust;
  • to her God she does not draw near.
  • 3 Her officials in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves;
    • they leave nothing until the morning.
  • 4 Her prophets are arrogant men of treachery; her priests have defiled that which is holy;
    • they do violence to the law.
  • 5 Yahweh is righteous in her midst; he does not do wickedness.
• Morning by morning[fn] he renders his judgment;
  • at dawn he does not fail,
• but an evil one knows no shame.
  • 6 “I have cut off nations; their strongholds are deserted.
• I have laid waste their streets,
  • so that none pass through.
• Their cities have been destroyed
  • and are without a man, without an inhabitant.
  • 7 I have said, ‘Surely she will fear me; she will accept discipline.
• Then her dwelling place will not be cut down,
  • nor all that I have brought upon her.’
• Surely they rise early;
  • they make all their deeds corrupt.
  • 8 “Therefore, wait for me”—a declaration of Yahweh— “for the day of my rising as a witness.
• For my decision is to gather nations,
  • to assemble[fn] kingdoms,
  • to pour out my wrath upon them, all my burning anger.
• For by the fire of my anger all the land shall be consumed.
  • 9 Because then I will make the speech of the nations pure ;[fn] that all of them might call on the name of Yahweh,
  • to serve him in unison .[fn]
  • 10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers and the daughter of my scattered ones
  • shall bring my offering.
  • 11 On that day you shall not be humiliated on account of all your deeds
  • by which you have rebelled against me.
• For then I shall remove from your midst
  • those exulting in your pride,
• and you shall no longer be haughty
  • in my holy mountain .[fn]
  • 12 And I will leave in your midst a people afflicted and poor,
• and they shall take refuge
  • in the name of Yahweh.
  • 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do wickedness;
• they shall not speak deception,
  • nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.
• For they shall graze and lie down,
  • and none shall frighten them.”
  • 14 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Cry aloud, O Israel!
• Rejoice and be jubilant with all your heart,
  • O daughter of Jerusalem!
  • 15 Yahweh has annulled your judgments; he has turned away your enemies.
• The king of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst;
  • you shall no longer fear misfortune.
  • 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, “Fear not, O Zion;
  • your hands shall not hang limp.
  • 17 Yahweh your God is in your midst; a mighty warrior who saves.
• He shall rejoice over you with joy;
  • he renews[fn] you in his love;
  • he will exult over you with singing.
  • 18 I will gather those of you grieving on account of the feast; they were raising against her a reproach.
  • 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors; I will save the lame and gather the outcast.
• I will change[fn] them from shame
  • to glory and renown[fn] throughout the whole world.
  • 20 At that time I will bring you in; at the time of my gathering you together.
• For I will make you renowned[fn] and praised
  • among all the nations of the earth
• when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”
  • says Yahweh.